Posted on 06/30/2006 5:03:16 PM PDT by robowombat
Who's buried in Grant's Tomb? PAUL POST, The Saratogian 05/26/2006
NEW YORK -- At a Civil War battlefield, Grant's Tomb might be one of America's most imposing memorials. In New York, overshadowed by world-famous structures such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and St. Patrick's Cathedral, it's just another building.
But visitors can't help coming away impressed after seeing the 150-foot-tall monument overlooking the Hudson River, where Grant was laid to rest following his July 23, 1885 death at Wilton's Mount McGregor.
'I grew up here in New York, so to me this isn't a 'wow' building,' a park ranger said. 'But we had a visitor here from a foreign country not long ago, and I remember him saying, 'Wow!'
'This is the first neoclassical building in America that was used as a memorial. The other memorials in Washington, D.C., like the Jefferson Memorial, are patterned after this.'
In many ways, Grant's Tomb is symbolic of the great Civil War leader and 18th president of the United States.
'He doesn't get the credit he deserves,' the park ranger said.
Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and delivered the Gettysburg Address, but without Grant's decisive victories, Lincoln might never have been elected to a second term, because the Union's war effort was going poorly before Grant took full command of the army.
When the war ended, many historians agree that Grant, not Lincoln, was the North's most popular figure, and that Lincoln was elevated to near sainthood only after his assassination.
Grant's Tomb was dedicated on April 27, 1897, the 75th anniversary of his birth. It's hard to say how it started, but the landmark is responsible for one of the most well-known riddles in America: 'Who's buried in Grant's Tomb?'
Such lighthearted quips are quickly dispelled during firsthand visits to the site.
The recently refurbished edifice is both solemn and enlightening, in the way it reminds people of the sacrifice paid by soldiers on both sides of the War Between the States.
Why New York?
'Grant liked New York City,' the park ranger said. 'He wanted to be buried next to his wife (Julia Dent Grant) and Arlington Cemetery in Washington, D.C., didn't allow spouses at the time. And it would have been difficult for Mrs. Grant to go all the way to Washington to pay respects to her husband, while she was still living. So the mayor of New York donated land for this site.'
The tomb's interior holds numerous displays explaining various stages of Grant's career as a citizen, soldier, general and statesman. Included are several photos of his final days at Mount McGregor, where thousands of people flocked to pay him homage before he died.
One shows him on the steps of Grant's Cottage surrounded by his wife, three sons, daughter and grandchildren. He finished his memoirs there only days before his death.
Grant's remains were interred in a temporary brick vault at Riverside Park, and work on the tomb didn't begin until 1892. The project cost $600,000, donated by more than 90,000 people, and took five years and 8,000 tons of granite to complete.
During dedication ceremonies, warships on the Hudson River fired guns in salute.
Grant's Tomb was designed by New York architect John Duncan, who submitted the winning entry in a contest that drew submissions from around the world. Inscribed over the front entrance, all visitors are greeted by Grant's epitaph, 'Let Us Have Peace.'
Grant's Tomb, located near Riverside Drive and West 122nd St., is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For information and a full listing of upcoming events at Grant's Tomb, visit www.nps.govgegr.
http://www.saratogian.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16696821&BRD=1169&PAG=461&dept_id=17776&rfi=6
Jimmy Hoffa?
It's amazing how many people don't know this.
Judy, Judy, Judy...
It was Groucho Marx.
I thought it ws a riddle because both Grant and his wife were burried there......
Great military leader, one of the worst Presidents of all time. Why he's on the $50 bill is beyond me. Surely John Adams or one of the Founders should occupy the second-most valuable currency.
From Wikipedia, but it's technically correct. Plus, they're beneath the tomb in the crypt, not in the tomb itself, at least according to the guides who gave the spiel when I visited in grade school.
Weekly World News, the B&W tabloid, has a continuous feature concerning a paranormal private eye who has his HQ "under Grant's Tomb", so the article often has a photo of Grant's Tomb. (Just thought I'd mention it, for what it's worth.)
That was then this is now.
So who is under it. Did they ever get around to putting him in there or not?!
It's an impressive monument.
His Presidency sucked for many reasons, but he was a great Union general.
LOL. Groucho used to ask that question on his game show when the dummies missed all the other questions, so that, "no-one goes home empty handed. BTW, I saw people miss that question too.
Is there a question in this article about who rotted in Grant's tomb? The article indicates it was Grant. I always figured he was transported into hell by a demon. In that scenario, an imposter lies in his grave.
I heard the same thing - it was a very dicey area. Has it been cleaned up? Can I still score a dime bag on the steps or whatever?
I haven't been near it since I retired in 99. The tomb was cleaned up at that time, however, I can't say if the surrounds have gotten better since then. As for scoreing, you'd be better at 116 and Amsterdam or the Popeye's on 125, but you had better be armed.
lol! I was joking... I'm just amazed that a major monument - a president's tomb, would be allowed to be degraded like that. I don't know where Gen. Lee is buried but I bet it's not a crackhouse..
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